The Imaginoodles

by Christopher Eliopoulos (Author) Christopher Eliopoulos (Illustrator)

The Imaginoodles
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

While on a playdate with an outgoing new friend, a nervous hedgehog finds the courage to use his imagination, in this lively, funny picture book by the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ordinary People Change the World.

It doesn't take much for Henry, an introverted young hedgehog, to roll up into a tight ball of anxiety. And now he's on a nerve-wracking playdate with a new neighbor, a very energetic chipmunk named Chester. Chester wants to go on all kinds of imagined adventures in the backyard, but Henry much prefers the safety of experiencing adventure in the pages of a book. What's more, he's afraid that if he expresses his own creative ideas Chester will think he's silly and uncool. But with the help of a "magic" stick, a lizard who knows she's actually a dragon, and the encouragement of rambunctious Chester, Henry just might find his bravery and save the playdate!

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Hardcover
$19.99

Publishers Weekly

Anthropomorphized hedgehog Henry retreats into a protective ball when overwhelmed, prefers to read about adventures than to have them, and really doesn't want to meet the new kid next door ("He's probably going to think I'm the biggest dork on earth"). And Henry's fears seem justified when the neighbor, headstrong chipmunk Chester, insists on rambunctious pretend play ("This mound of dirt is a volcano ready to EXPLODE!"). After the hedgehog, having reality-checked a number of Chester's imagined scenarios (about the Sleeping Mountains--"These are just little rocks"), finally confesses to a fear of being judged, Chester isn't having it: "Imagination isn't about being 'cool.' It's about being silly and not caring what anyone else thinks." So Henry gives it a tentative whirl--and comes up with an "amazing" voracious sock monster who wants to eat Chester, necessitating a brilliant rescue. If Chester's steamroller antics initially come on strong, all-dialogue text from Eliopoulos (The Yawns Are Coming!) is funny and knowing, the comics-style action moves at a fast clip, and Henry seems genuinely pleased to discover his place among the most exuberant of pretenders. Ages 4-8. (July)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"All-dialogue text from Christopher Eliopoulos is funny and knowing, the comics-style action moves at a fast clip. —Publishers Weekly

"This amusing, fast-paced tale willappeal to readers' sense of fun. Typographical wizardry, with numerous onomatopoeic words and large, capitalized words used for dramatic effect, will appeal to graphic novel fans. A charming tale that will have readers unleashing their imaginations. —Kirkus

Christopher Eliopoulos
Christopher Eliopoulos began his illustration career as a letterer for Marvel and has worked on thousands of comics, including Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Pet Avengers, and Cow Boy, all of which he wrote and illustrated. He is the illustrator of the New York Times-bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series of picture book biographies. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and their identical twin sons.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593698488
Lexile Measure
530
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Rocky Pond Books
Publication date
July 09, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
Library of Congress categories
Animals
Imagination
Hedgehogs
Graphic novels
Imagination in children
Cartoons and comics
Play

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